Corporal Punishment Essay

Introduction:

Physical or corporal punishment is the application of force to produce pain without making injury to correct or control behaviours (Straus & Stewart, 1999). Corporal punishment is mainly used as a method of discipline for the children. It includes hitting, spanking, pinching and slapping. Studies conducted on corporal punishment and its effects, helps to understand how it affects the academic achievement of the children. A number of researches provide evidence for corporal punishment being harmful and destructive towards the children’s physical as well as mental health. Hyman et al found that

Academic achievement is measured based on the test grades received and the class participation of the children. It provides a strong

The effects of corporal punishment on academic progress and cognitive ability. In the years of making, for a child, Parents and teachers play a very pivotal role of mentors and role models. Their behavior and actions actually make a long lasting impact on the child’s life. It is also the responsibility of the parents and teachers too to guide and direct the child’s behavior to more socially accepted norms than less. Discipline is key word there and bring about that, many a time, corporal punishments is used.

Corporal punishment is given by both parents and teachers. Both show an impact on the academic progress of the children. According to Roussow (2003) students who receive corporal punishment show symptoms of dejection in studies, poor performance in the tests and also do not participate in the teaching and learning process enthusiastically.

As it clearly has a relation to the academic performance of the child, the study of the impact if any, of the corporal punishment given by Parents and Teachers become of prime importance. a. Corporal Punishment by

A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. The conclusion found was that students who were punished and discouraged hesitated to actively participate in classroom activities and hence, found a significant negative correlation between corporal punishment and academic progress.

Other factors also play a role in the academic performance such as interest of the topic since this is a correlation and hence cannot establish a cause and effect relationship between corporal punishment and academic performance. Since the research was collected through self administered questionnaire, the reliability of the research is in question due to Hawthorne effect as the subjects knew they were being tested and hence, might have reacted accordingly. The research also shows a high ecological validity as the findings can be applied in the real